Collapsible boat



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 T. T. MURFAY COLLAPSIBLE BOAT Flled Jan 5 1925 Nov. -9 1926.

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1,605,970 T. T. MURFAY coLLA'PsIBLE BOAT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 9 1926.

Filed Jan. 5. 1925 Nov. 9 1926.

T. T. MURFAY coLLAPsIBLE BOATv Filed `1an. 5. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. A9 ,1926. 1,605,910

. T. T. .MURFAY v oLLAPsIBLE BOAT Filed Jan. 5, '1925 4 sheets-sheet 4 Inc/emi" TmQQZMM/f@ Patented New 9, 1926i narran etarra TEDDY`T. MURFAY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS VCOLLAPSIIBLE BOAT.

Application ,filed January, 1925. Serial No. `616.

This invention relateetoboete, v:andespeoially to the smaller vsir/les of Water-craft, suoli as row boataeanoee, andtlielilre, of eollapeible form, adaptedhforready linee/lrdoivn so `as to be convenient Yfor.portability and storage inja email space. The,mlain objects of the invention Aare Ito provide an improved form of collapsible beat; to provitre suoli a device adapted for more .Colmpactaeeelnblage ofltbeparte when knoeled down; to provide ,a boat ofthisA sort adapted especially for packing' ongtlie running board of an ordinary automobile seas to ,eenetr tute partei a camping' outfit; to provide improved means for stening aand suupporting; the boat frame when eet y up fornse;-to provide an improved form ofleonetruetion for the watertight Covering; to provide yan impreved form of `ribbing and fastening means Y there/fer to iprovide convenient and positively effective 'for teneioningtlie frame land Covering When `Set up; tofpro.

vide an improvedform of stem, eternpost, keel and Vgnnvvale Conetruotion; .to provide an improved form and arlallgllentofpropeiling `means; to provide such means adapted `to be operated manually for Lbotli pro ielling and steering; ,tlieboatg and to proifide an improved form ofbrioyant .stabilizing?,` means of the natu-re of Vsponsons.

in illustrative embodimenofthis invenilioi. ie elioivn by the accompanying ldrawe. in nliioli ie'. .l ie a plan of a boat set up and aeembled ready for nee, vtloe detachable being omitted.

2 is a vertioal longitudinal section j tlie main of tlieboat, tivo seats Y- `sliown Y S is ,an enlargederoee eeetionon the line ofFig. l.

Fig. l is a still further enlarged .frage mentary eeotion ongtlieMlineflbf` of Fig. Vl.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail of a flexible connecting' member forming partof the glinivale portion of the o overing andehovvs the adjacent ends of a pair of flexible steel rin una.

Fifi, G` is la yfragiinentary planof the keel ref nd adjacent flooring.

r- ,j rig. 7 is a fragmentaiy View of the Lee] tension member and shows also the adjacent ende of a group of ribs `secured thereto (before attachment to Ithercanvas covering). Fig. `8 is a greatly enlarged sectional vievvisliowing'in detalltlie frontend struc- .ggnmvale reinforging .end ofthe boat.

Fig. 13 `isa plan of the longitudinally folded Water-tight v Wall yor covering member.

the ribs being; shoivnby dottedlines7 as also tlieedgre ofthe bottom part.

Fig. 14 is ka fragmentary view of the eentral floor member Wlnh 'extends lengthen-ee over tlielreel part, and serves as akeeleon,

as shown in Fig. l.

F 1g. l5 le an. end vieyv of the roll when Ithe flexible oovering is rolled up ready for storage ,Figi 16 isianenlargeduseetion on the line .16516 of Fig.

Fig. l? isa Seotionon the' line 17-1? of Fig. l0.

li`ig. 18 is a diagrammatic plan of the strips for one side of the boat.

`1.9 is a greatly enlarged section` on the line `l9--l9f'of F' Fig. 20 is an enlare ed underside view of v.one endof aseat showingv the end fastening;

In `,the 4 Construction elioivn in the drawinge, the boat Vcomprises,niair'ily three distinct `essential parte, namely, a foroibly expansible rigid frameof jointed eliaraoten a substantially.flexible Wall or covering of ,Water-tightcharacter adapted to be stretched thereon, and a folldable floor. These main parte y are yenpplernentedby Several minor fittings ,ineluding gunwale strips, eide-keel sons,',seats and propelling means, as will be more fully explained,

The said frame part consiste mainly of a teleseopioally ointe/dV and extensible keel bar 4l having upright front 4stem and stern-poet portions 2 and 3.

The; flexible covering consiste mainly of a thin Wall member .4, preferably` made of canlvas,suitably treated to render it Water-tight, in combination with Aa double series of transaverseflexible ribs 5 lof,vreeilient character, one series'non veaoli side, and flexible tension rrthe flooring as a whole includes a full width bottom member 8 composed of a' series of thin narrow boards 8 disposed crosswise and flexibly joined together at their edges by hinges S, (see Fig. 9) a slightly elevated main center tread member 9 consisting of a series of wide boards 9 disposed end to end and hinged together and a pair of foldable side keelsons 10. The sections of the latter fold in opposite directions at successive joints as shown for the floorI sections in Fig. 9. The floor bottom 3 is readily attachable to the main frame or keel 1 by means of itl-bolts 11 when the latter is set up and in place, together with the side keelsons 10 which are laid before the flooring proper 8 F is applied.

The method of assembling the boat for use is to first set up the extensible keel inember 1, then apply the covering Ll over the frame thus provided, which is suitably exe panded as will be explained, then set the side keelsons 10 in place and apply the flooring 8 and finally apply the tread part 9, the gunwaie stitfening members 12, seats 13 and propelling means hereinafter described.

`Whcn the boat is to be knocked down and packed for transport or storage, the `reverse operation is followed. Vlhe several detachable accessory parts, such as the propeller and seats, are first removed, the gunwale strips 12 are each taken off and folded up, the tread 9 and floor 8 are each folded, the side keelsons 10 are also removed and folded, the keel bar 1 is relaxed and separated from the covering l and taken apart and finally the part 4 is folded lengthwise and rolled into a compact bundle. lThe frame, floor and covering parts et cetera may be rolled into separate parcels, or if preferred the frame and other members may be rolled into or enfolded by the covering member Il, depending upon how it is desired to handle the boat when packed; a single large parcel being preferable under some circumstances and several smaller parcels being preferable under other circumstances.

Referring now to the structure of the frame more in detail, the keel 1 comprises tive straight bar sections 1li, 15, 16, 17 and 18, two of which, 15 and 17, are of relatively small diameter to lit as at 19 in the ends of the larger sections, which are of tubular form and adapted for limited overlap. The stem and sternpost 2 and 3 each include a horizontally turned lower end 2 and 3 respectively adapted for telescopic connection with the adjacent ends of the corresponding` keel sections 141 and 18. j

@ne of the keel joints as at 20 is provided with means, as shown in Fig. 10, for 'forcibly extending the keel 1 when it is in place, so

one set on each side,

as to stretch the covering t thereon (see Figs. 10 and 17). This expanding means 'includes a rack bar 21 secured to the thin on bar 16, to insure operation and locking of the wheel when it has been thrown into its effective position respectively for tightly eX- panding the frame. Each ratchet is provided with a lift handle 26 and 27 respectively, whereby the ratchetsA may be disengaged when the wheel is to be released for collapsthe frame. The shank 21 of bar 21 is set in a filler block 28, which fits snugly in tube 17 and is secured by rivets 29. The tubes 16 and 1.7 are splined against relative, turning, as shown at 30 on Fig. 17.

All of the other keel joints are formed and adapted for limited concentric overlap as shown by dotted lines on Fig. 2. lllhe lap is limited by core blocks fixed in the larger tubes as will be understood.

l/Vhen the keel one and covering Li are properly assembled and expanded the side keelsons 1G are each unfolded and set in place. rlhe. floor 8 is then unfolded and tened in place` centrally by the keel bolts 11 and laterally by the side keelson bolts 31. rEhe tread strip 9 is next unfolded and secured bythe bolts 32.

The four gunwale strips 12 are ext nnfolded and applied to the boat edges, one inside and the other outside, where they secured by the downwardly facing itclips and screws or bolts Sil, which entend `hrough the adjacent rib tips, as shown in Fig. 19. rllhese strips 12 are formed and arranged to break joints, as indicated in 18. .For this purpose one of the end seetions 12of each strip is half as long` as the rest of the sections 12. One strip 12 of each pair has its short section 12 at the bow and the other strip has its short section at the stern.

rlhe covering i is made integrally and is adapted to fold along the longitudinal center line corresponding with the keel, stem and stern lines, so that the two sides thereof come together in a substantially flat forni adapted for rolling on their transverse to make a relatively short bundle having a length abou the same as the middle ribs. ln order to stiflen the covering and give the desired stability and form to the boat, the flat spring steel ribs 5 are attached thereto, the inner ends of the so as to be engaged by a gear ribs being flexibly joined, as will be described. ln order to holdL these ribs inplace and to protect them, pockets or tunnels are formed transversely on the inner side of each lateral half of the covering by means of canvas strips `sewed to the wall l. rThe outer ends ofthe ribs are connected byloops 5 and rivets and 37 to the chain 6 which is housed in a pocket 88 formed in the gunwale part of the coverino. A keel ppcket 39 is also provided for the middle chain .7. The inner ends of the ribs 5 are formed with loops el() to engage the chain l', these loops being riveted at al. Straps @are sewed to the inside of the cover fl to receive the stem and stern posts 2 and S.

in order to `eflectually stabilize the boat and render it non-sinltable, a pair of inflatable sponsons l2 are provided along the water line on the sides of the coveriiig,ffoiwhich purpose longitudinal pockets` are sewed at 43 and-lll to the outside of the covering to receive tubular rubber air lpockets 45, which are `provided with up` wardly projecting inilating stems d6 arranged for convenient access in order that air may be forced in when the boat is to be used.

A rigid connector cap 47 is provided at the stem to receive and stably cin the upper stem tip and gunwale members. A. ll-b0lt 4S provided with butterfly nuts clamps this cap to the stem 2. A somewhat similar cap i9 is clamped by a ll-bolt 50 to the upper tip of the stern-post 3 and holds-the adjacent ends of the gunwale strips l2.

lhe seats 18, as many as desired consistent with the size of the boat, are hung on lugs l, one pair at each end, adapted to hook over the gunwalesI and carry the seat alittle below the upper edge. ln orderto prevent accidental displacement of the seat a spring` catch 5:2 is provided at each end adapted to releasably engager the underside of the inner strip l2, as shown by Fig. 20.

The seats lf3 serve also as thwarts or tranthe lower end of an upright shaft 57 whichk is journaled at its upper end in a journal block 49 formed as part of the stern cap 49, a horizontally disposed handle 58 being pros vided for swinging the propeller either to the right or to the left. The said flexible shaft 5a is enclosed in a flexible tubular housingf), whichis connected to the front end of'one Varm 57 ,of the downwardly disposed lhead of the rudder post 57, on the other arm a7 of .which the propeller 53 is supported.

'lhe propeller may be supplemented by oars whenever desired, oar-locks 60 being'- attachable to the gunwales as shown iii liigs. l` and 2.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described kit is to be understood that numerous details ofthe construction shown may be altered or o niiitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as delined by the following claims.

li claim:

l. A collapsible boat comprising, in coin- `biiiation, a flexible covering, an extensible stiffener whereon said covering may be stretched, foldable gunwale members, said stillener including` a telescopically jointed ,keel bar having stem, and stern-post members secured thereto, and manually operable means for forcibly extending said heel bar when the said parts are set up and assembled Vfor use as a boat.

keel member includinga plurality of rigid sections and having upturned ends to serve as vstein kand stern-post respectively, and mechanism to forcibly extend said keel inember at one of its joints.

4. ln a boat an extensible jointed keel member having a rack and a` pinion secured toadjaceiitdel sections` respectively at one Vofthe joints, said piiiionliaving a handle whereby it may be operated manually, and automatic pawl means to arrest said pinion when the keel has been forcibly expanded lengthwise.

5. A knock-down boat having a flexible covering and a frame which includes a sectional -lieel member, a pair of foldable sidelreelsons disposed substantially in a horizontal plane with said keel member and a transversely jointed foldable Hoor member attachable along its main to said keel member and at its edges to said side leelsons.-

6. A collapsible boat having a transversely foldable floor disposed entirely across the bottom in combination with an elevated tread member which is transversely foldable, and means for attaching same to the floor.

7. A collapsible boat having' a frame part comprising a jointed keel rod with upturned stein and stern-post members substantially rigid therewith, in combination with a Water-tight covering having resilient ribs secured thereto, transversely lioldable gun- Wale members detachably connected to the upper edges of the sides of the boat respectively, and end-cap members secured to the upper ends ot the stein and stern-post respectively and adapted to receive the adjacent ends respectively of said gunivale inembers.

8. il. collapsible boat having side leelsons of ioldable character comprising a series ot sections flexibly connected to told in opposite directions at successive joints and means for securing the same detachably to the boat adjacent to the junction of the iloor and side Walls respectively.

9. i collapsible boat having transversely 'loldable gunvv'ale strips detachably connected to the upper edges of the side Walls ol' the boat respectively.

l0. in a collapsible boat ol the character described, gunwale stiflening means oi foldable character demountably attached and comprising a pair oic trai'isversely jointed complen'ientary rail-strips arranged to break joints relative to each other.

ll. ln a collapsible boat oil the character described, gnnwale stitlening means oi' foldabie character demountably attached and comprising a pair ol transversely jointed complementary rail-strips arranged to break joints relative to each other, in combination with fastening means including inverted U- clips to tightly embrace the rail strips in place. on the boat edges.

1:2. A boat including a flexible Wall in combination with a vpair of transversely foldabie gnnvvale stifleners arranged to break joints and fasteners tor said stifeners including rigid means extending through said sti'lieners and the said Wall which is disposed between said stiiifeners.

13. A boatincluding a flexible Wall in combination with a pair oi' transversely toldable gunwale stiffeners arranged to break joints and fasteners for said 'stitteners including screws extending` through said stilleners and the said Wall which is disposed between said stitieners.

lil. A collapsible boat comprising mainly a knoclndown traine in combination with a ileXible Water-tight covering there'ior, said covering having tlexible reinforcement means including resilient transverse ribs eX- tending outwardly from the keel line, said ribs being joined in pairs at their inner ends for longitudinal folding of said coverincr.

l5. A collapsible boat comprising mainly a knock-down frame in combination with a flexible 'eater-tight covering therefor, said covering having tiexible reinforcement means including a keel chain and gunivale chains and resilient transverse ribs extending outwardly from the heel line, said ribs being joined in pairs at their inner ends igor longitudinal 'folding oi said covering, said ribs being jierinanently connected at their lends to said chains respectively.

i6. El collapsible boat oi the character described comprising mainly a knock-down keel and a Water-tight covering having transv e spring ribs, in combination with detachable transversely jointed gnnvvale strips, said lreel having a stem and a sternpost each provided With a top cap to receive and hold the adjacent ends of said gunivale strips respectively.

if?. In a collapsible boat of the character described, a jointed lieel rod having a sternpost detachably connected thereto in combination with a top cap for said stern-post to receive the gnnwale ends, and a screw propeller having a supporting post vertically journaled on said cap vvhereby said propeller may serve also as as rudder for steering the boat.

Signed at Chicago this 2nd day of January, i925.

TEDDY T. MUR-FAY. 

